Over 10,001 lb and crossing state lines?
Get your truck and trailer inspected where you park, with one record per unit.
Use the highest of the weight rating or actual weight, for the truck alone or the full combination. Add the truck's GVWR to the trailer's GVWR. If the total is 10,001 lb or more and you haul interstate, the federal annual applies to both the truck and the trailer.
| Setup | Rating example | Federal CMV for interstate work? |
|---|---|---|
| 26 ft box truck | 26,000 lb GVWR | Yes |
| Cargo van or sprinter | 9,900 lb GVWR, no trailer | No |
| One-ton pickup plus 3-car gooseneck | 11,500 lb + 25,900 lb | Yes, both units |
The definition of a commercial motor vehicle is in 49 CFR 390.5.
Then your state's intrastate threshold decides. New Jersey uses 10,001 lb for ordinary intrastate commercial vehicles; Florida and Texas start ordinary intrastate trucks at 26,001 lb. Thresholds differ by state, so see your state page.
Yes. When the combination is a commercial motor vehicle, the trailer is its own unit and needs its own annual inspection and its own proof (49 CFR 396.17(a)). A pickup and a gooseneck are 2 inspections, priced at $84.15 each with a 15% fleet discount. See pricing.
Inspected where you park, with a digital record for each unit.